Drabinko: The OCU should show love, rather than seize UOC churches

Alexander Drabinko. Photo: screenshot from OBOZ.UA YouTube channel

February 13, 2025 – Alexander Drabinko, a representative of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine (OCU) and former UOC metropolitan, stated that his current structure should show more love towards the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) instead of forcibly seizing its churches.

In an interview with OBOZ.UA, he told Oleh Paniuta that many "hierarchs" and "priests" who were formerly part of the UAOC or the Kyiv Patriarchate do not see UOC believers as brothers.

Drabinko recalled that on the first anniversary of the "Unification Council," he suggested to his OCU colleagues that they reach out to UOC hierarchs and believers, calling for unity and joint efforts in building church life in Ukraine.

However, one of the "hierarchs" of the autocephalous church objected, stating that they had "endured and suffered," and that they were content with what they had at the moment.

"His Beatitude Epifaniy removed this issue from the agenda. As a result, we now have a confrontation that only continues to escalate," Drabinko noted.

He emphasized that the OCU "should show more love instead of sometimes illegally seizing certain church buildings."

Earlier, it was reported that OCU supporters, led by Metropolitan Alexander Drabinko, seized a UOC church in Boyarka. With the support of armed individuals and members of the local territorial defense, the schismatic "hierarch" expelled the UOC community from the Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker.

Additionally, in the village of Shevchenkove, former UOC metropolitan Alexander Drabinko, who joined the OCU, ordered the immediate confiscation of keys and property from believers. Afterward, OCU representatives, accompanied by police, seized the UOC church.

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